Brent Dickinson

Stength & Conditioning Coach

Date Joined: 20th May 2016

A passionate and highly qualified strength & conditioning coach and sports therapist currently providing a key point of leadership
within the Nottingham Forest Academy, overseeing the safe and football specific physical progression of players at all age groups

Possesses an exceptional work ethic, the ability to forge positive working relationships with athletes and colleagues alike, and a
commitment to ensuring every individual coached is bullet proof; as impervious to the pains of sporting endeavour as possible and
able to maintain consistently high performance levels throughout competition

Career History

Key Achievements

Personally designed and implemented a structured LTAD plan through each age group at Nottingham Forest’s academy (13 - 21) to ensure every player continues to develop athletically and safely for their age

This plan has instilled a new culture within the Academy, improved intensity in training and enabled players to train with and break into the first team squad (seven graduates from the U18s and U21s into the first team in 2015/16)

Implemented new data analysis and measurement processes that have both enabled the design of individualised development and support programmes, and improved individual monitoring and goal-setting as the players progress through the age groups

Continues to apply a high level of knowledge to improve multiple aspects of the Academy, including: sports science and medical protocols, nutritional support, staff education and development, player education, etc.

Improved both player and coach feedback measures to increase the players’ awareness of their progression and allow instant feedback on match / training intensity, in turn leading to strategic adaptation of the training schedule or individual targets

Used performance data to improve the structure of yearly training planning and periodization, with increased or reduced workloads throughout the year to ensure training is always optimised for the players

Set up a Dropbox for Academy staff so that all information is easily shared and accessible

The U21s won their league title in 2014/15 and the U18s came second in their league

Part of the Hull FC backroom staff that guided the team to the 2008 and 2013 Challenge Cup finals

The training programmes implemented led to the team making the most tackles, with the highest tackle efficiency, the second most marker tackles, the fourth most tackle busts, and the second highest average gain per carry in the 2013 Super League season

Designed and implemented a structured long-term athletic development plan (LTAD) for S&C across all academy grades

Applied these plans to the first grade squad, initially with the JETS and then the AASE programme, providing a clear pathway for young players to progress from scholarship and academy grades though to the first team

4 Assisted in the progression of more than 25 players who graduated from Academy to play 1st grade for Hull FC or another club

Led the club’s S&C department for a 3 month period in the absence of the Head of Strength & Conditioning

Produced research papers to enhance the department that examined speed, strength, and power in rugby league athletes, and that allowed comparisons between positions and the reliability of speed assessment using GPS and timing gates